The Alamo – Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas
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| Photograph ©sdsoldiers.com |
“The Alamo,” one of America’s most remembered and respected landmarks and forever a symbol of self-sacrifice for the pursuit of liberty. In addition to its rich history, the Alamo is a ghost hunter’s dream; pulling in reports of apparitions and unexplainable activity on a daily basis!
Originally called “San Antonio de Valero,” the structure was built in 1718 by Franciscan monks and Indian converts. The Franciscan seminary was later named the “Alamo,” (meaning “cottonwood in Spanish) referring to the cottonwood trees that line the river nearby.
The facts surrounding the Alamo and the fight that took place there are a bit sketchy. Most claim, however, that General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (dictator of Mexico), moved in on the Alamo with up to 4,000 trained soldiers. The Alamo itself had only 189 defenders and among these men were American legends: Sam Houston, James Bowie and Davy Crockett.
The brutal fighting began on February 23, 1836 and went on for thirteen days. On March 6, 1836, Santa Anna attacked at daybreak and after three attempts, he brought our brave men to their knees. The last defender of the Alamo to fall is said to be Davy Crockett.
When the battle was over, all of the Alamo’s men were dead, however, they managed to take out over 1600 Mexican soldiers before their death! The dead were then buried in a mass grave (the makings of a haunting). Some of the men who died during the first thirteen days of battle were not even buried, also adding to the bad vibes.
The battle at the Alamo made its mark on American history and on the land, making it one of the most haunted places in Texas.
The paranormal events began almost immediately after the battle was over. The first reports were made by Mexican soldiers who were ordered by Santa Anna to demolish the fortress. These men claimed that when they began knocking down walls, an assembly of six apparitions came out of the walls with flaming swords drawn. The men fled and no further attempts were made to destroy the fort.
Since that time, numerous reports of the unexplained have been made and they continue to roll in day after day! Also, the claims of activity are not just limited to the Alamo itself; many strange happenings occur on the grounds and in the surrounding buildings. Here are some of the claims:
Strange noises, unexplainable smells, disembodied voices and whispers, footsteps, pounding on doors, furniture being shaken, the sounds of a woman crying, sounds of children laughing, windows and doors opening and closing, lights turning on and off, cold spots, strange lights that appear and then vanish into thin air, the feeling of being watched…and this is just the tip of the iceberg!
In addition, many have claimed to see apparitions throughout the place. Many witness accounts tell of deformed men who vanished before their eyes, a male apparition who runs across the roof of the Alamo frantically looking for escape, a man dressed in a long black coat who looks solid but then dissipates, a solid-looking cowboy ghost who also dissolves into thin air, a transparent monk who wanders the grounds, residual re-enactments of the battle by ghostly fighters long past and there are many more!
The horror of the battle fought here has left a permanent scar on the land, making this a prime spot for paranormalists and historians alike.